Practical
Plants

Dipsacus sativus

Fuller's Teasel

a biennial or perennial member of the Dipsacus genus in the family Dipsacaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
biennial, perennial
Height
1.8 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Self

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The root is diaphoretic, diuretic and stomachic[12]. An infusion is said to strengthen the stomach, create an appetite, remove obstructions of the liver and treat jaundice[10]. The root is harvested in early autumn and dried for later use[12]. The plant has a folk history of use in the treatment of cancer, an ointment made from the roots is used to treat warts, wens and whitlows[10][8]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the flowering plant[12]. It is used in the treatment of skin diseases[12].

Product or use
Cancer
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Homeopathy
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
Warts

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The dried flower heads are used for carding wool and as a clothes brush for raising the nap on woollen cloth[12][11][13][4]. They are harvested with about 20cm of stem as soon as the flowers wither and are dried for later use[10]. A blue dye is obtained from the dried plant, an indigo substitute[13]. It is water soluble[13]. The colour is yellow when mixed with alum[3].

Product or use
Brush
Product or use
Dye

Environment

Range
Of uncertain origin. An occasional escape from cultivation in Britain[5].
Habitat
Not known in a truly wild condition.
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown in early spring in situ[2]. The seed can also be sown from February to May or from August to October. All but the earlier sowings can be made outdoors.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in most soils[1] but prefers clay[5]. Prefers a deep rich soil[4]. Requires a sunny position[4]. A good butterfly plant[9]. Fuller's teasel is occasionally cultivated for its seed head, which is used for carding cloth[1][6][11]. The flowering heads are also much prized by flower arrangers because they keep their colour almost indefinitely when dried[12].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.

    ↩

  3. Niebuhr. A. D. Herbs of Greece. Herb Society of America. 1970-00-00

    ↩

  4. Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  6. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

  8. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩

  9. Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden.

    ↩

  10. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  12. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  13. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

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